Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-08-10

60 up there and sit awhile. evenIn's,
list dew"
Thanks" Eitchle murmured, with
out daring 10 look at Rob, who seemed
TO be on the verge OF a convulsIon-
MY dear fellow" Wynne said, that
morning, on the way down to the sta
ton, ''sIs the girls say, it's Just too
funny for anything Only keep me
posted how your Irritation gets on.
Think OF Malcolm Richie and this
little rustic" And he laughed a low,
musical laugh of derision.
RItchie did not go up TO the front
room for several evenings When at
last he did, his knock interrupted one
OF Chopin's nocturnes. Miss Jimmie
was seated ut the piano. She wore u
brown calico dress with red flowers in
it-a dress even more hideous .hau the
purple spotted one.
''Ah, come in" she said, looking
around, but not rising. "You are
always welcome, here, as Auntie says;
but when you come, you mustn't expect
me TO talk; for / can never talk when 1
play. As she said this, she whirled
around on the piano stool, and let her
hands drop softly on the keys, in kind
of caress.
1t was Mendelssohn first, and then
Mozart, and List, and Beethoven. AS
RItchie glanced from the sweet, rapt
face TO the supple white fingers, gifted
with such an exquisite touch, he began
10 think that he had stumbled over
social phenomenon.
But, with all thIs,'' he wrote to
Bob Wynne, "she is wholly devoid OF
taste IN personal adornment. Her
dresses are appalling; her shoes are an
anachronism. You ask me about the
fishing. There's plenty of trout still,
but / haven't been out much yet, ex-
cept with Miss Gray. Now don't make
more of this fact than you've a right
TO, which isn't much. She has pas
sion for spring flowers, and grasses,
and that sort OF thing, and help her
70 collect them. Farmer Goodrich has
rickety old buggy which he lets us
have now and then. The uncle and
aunt will do anything for 'JInnie-'"
you seem TO have quite forgotten
the original purposes OF your stay
there" Wynne wrote In reply. Three
weeks have passed since lett you. and
you are still driving Miss Gray about
the country, instead of catching trout,
and sending me lot, as you promised.
I'm afraid your old weakness has over
come you, and that you are hirting
again Don't break the poor girls
heaTt.r
You speak too late" was the reply.
Angling is now quite out OF the ques-
tIOu. | have assumed the sacred duties
of companion to an interesting invalid.
To be explicit, Bob, the buggy had the
Kindness TO go TO pieces, on the road,
and il was my privilege to rescue Miss
ha hA har
foOt-quIte a small foot, too, Bob, IN
spite OF the shoe. and-well, It was
very interesting. T..e doctor says she
may lie confined TO the lounge for a
fortnight. Picture me, at present, as
her devoted attendant l read and talk
to her by the hour. She does flrt,
Bob. How the little rustic learned, l
don't know; L suppose It comes by na-
ture, as you said. Indeed, l think she
understands it better than any girl
ever saw, for l can't, for the life oi
me, presume upon 4 single privilege.
have said to her some OF the sOfteSt
things | ever uttered; but, upon my
soul, I'd no more think OF taking her
hand than I'd think OF flying"
The days and weeks slipped by, and
/ Malcolm was still installed at Farmer
GoodrIch's. In the end, Wynne began
TO be seriously concerned for him, and
wrote TO inquire what he was doing
with ulmSelf.'
( 1t WAS one bright and unseasonabIy
warm afternoon. that Malcolm came
/ in in gleeful mood.
I've raked up buggy, Miss Gray
he said, ~ buggy that won't break
down, and, II you like, We can take a
drive along the river"
"a last drive" jimmie said, smiling
as she toyed with letter which she
held in her hand
~ hope not the very last" said NAL
colin, lightly.
The very last. I'm afraid" She an
swered with peculiar sweetness. Il
have "A summons to Baltimore"
Malcolm looked very much disap-
pointed.
You have friends in BaltImore?"
he said suggestiveiy-
oh, yesl 1 went to school there,
you know"
IL am very sorry you are going," he
said, awkwardly - more awkwardly
than he ever said anything in his life.
I'VE have had such pleasant time, at
least, have enjoyed it."
And /, too" she answered softly.
But the fishing is pretty well over
now."
1T wasn't the fishing that kept me
here, ~ 50 long, he ventured quite boldly
and jimmie blushed like a rose
~ can understand that" she has
tened to say; Il never knew 4 more
delightful place to idle in"
The buggy is here. Miss Gray" he
said, walking to the window, and theI
back again. "Allow me to take you
down"
. When he had her beside him. alone
on the river road, lie turned to her and
r said:
You are one of the most battling
= persons 1 ever met, Miss Gray"
| She laughed; and there was suddeI
= flash in her clear, hazel eye.
E You have flIrted with me uncon
t sciouabIy," he continued
= LAS to that" she answered coolly
II think, Mr.. Richie, that did m
1 more than you desired"
: Any other woman would have blusheC
b and denied 1t. Her manner Of receiv
5 Ing the accusation gave q new turn U
his thoughts.
o Yet you stand wholly uncom
7 mitted, - he said. discontentedly-
4 That is as it should be- Otherwls
d l should not have taken up such dan
e gerous amusement. We have hlrted
4 of course. What else could we do
!; under the circumstances"
:, Nothing half so interesting; but
e excuse me, if | presume too much
where did you learn TO manage situa
e ton so adroitlyY"
e You forget that l was educated
Baltimore" -.
e But school-g gIrIs have no opportunit
7, OF acquiring such lnesSe-"
|. "Some women are born with 1t, MI
{, Ritchie."
]. II believe they are. But what woul
3. you have done, Miss Gray. IL had 10
lowed up your fayors and asked you I
]. marry mer"